When I reflect on my life, so many of the opportunities I’ve been given are because of the hard work, wisdom, and foresight of those who came before me: I can read because of the public schools; I can vote because of women’s rights leaders; I can speak my mind, practice my faith, and petition the government to change a law – all because of those who came before me.

The Americans who came before me believed in us. They worked hard, took risks, fought to expand our civil rights, and invested in a stronger, brighter future.

Today the responsibility falls on all of us to continue that legacy. That’s why, at the Monroe County Democrats, our platform is simple:

We believe in building a better world for our children.

We support one another as we strive to realize our own dreams for ourselves and our families.

We care for those who came before us — the generation that worked to create a better world for all of us today.

I am so impressed and overwhelmed by the compassion, wisdom, and commitment in our community. Thank you for all of your hard work and continued support. Together, we really are the Builders of the American Dream.

Here at the Monroe County Democrats, candidate recruitment and training is a key part of our mission. We are always seeking out the very best talent — from the private sector, community organizations, schools, and non-profits — and preparing local leaders for public office.

For 2018 and beyond, we are especially seeking candidates for these positions:

Town and village court judges

Town and village boards

Town and village Democratic Committee members

Great leaders come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and it’s hard to define all of the factors that will make a person likely to succeed in public office.

In general, we are looking for candidates that have demonstrated success and bring practical experience to each position, along with a passion for and commitment to our community.

For example, judicial candidates should have relevant experience practicing law, and they should be willing to come before the bar association judiciary committee for an evaluation of their qualifications for the bench. Town and city board members should have experience managing a staff, budget, and long-term organizational strategy.

The recommended deadline to notify us about your intent to campaign for public office for 2018 has past, however, we will continue to meet with prospective candidates for specific positions past that deadline in preparation for the next available electoral opportunity. If you are interested, let us hear from you!

Hard to believe, but petition season is almost here! Our first day of petitioning will be Tuesday, March 6th.

In New York State, petitions are the first step for candidates hoping to run for elected office. Over the next few weeks, thousands of community members will sign their support for our local leaders to help get their names on the ballot.

Petitioning is also our first opportunity to get fired up for the coming year and reconnect with other Democrats in our neighborhoods. While signing petitions, community members can sign-up to volunteer on campaigns, host a lawn sign, or participate in voter registration drives.

If you’re able to walk door-to-door carrying petitions, please contact your local town or city Democratic Committee leaders or our Operations Director, Henrietta Herriott. We will be putting together our petition-carrying teams over the next few weeks. We’ll start with Congressional petitions in March, then carry statewide and local petitions in June.

For prospective candidates, it’s not too late to run! The deadline to notify us about your intent to campaign for public office is Wednesday, February 28th. Please visit our recruitment page for more information.

To stay up-to-date with important news and events, please sign up for our newsletter.

FiveThirtyEight has some good news regarding the 2018 elections in an article entitled “The Democrats’ Wave Could Turn Into A Flood.” The gist: a new CNN/SSRS survey puts Democrats ahead of Republicans by 18% in a generic congressional contest among registered voters. And while the CNN survey’s lead is a bit above that of other polls, FiveThirtyEight’s own survey, at 12%, has some dire meaning for Republicans:

That average, like the CNN poll, also shows Republicans in worse shape right now than any other majority party at this point in the midterm cycle since at least the 1938 election.

This disheartening part of the Jack Moore episode was the fact that he was re-elected to the position he still currently holds. That is why now more than ever, we need your support to make sure every voter in the Town of Henrietta knows they have a choice on Election Day, November 7th, and to send a clear message to our community that Jack Moore does NOT speak for us.

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the 9-11 Terrorists Attacks, a day we take to reflect on the lives list, sacrifices made, and courage that brought us together as a Nation. Our Democratic Family has lost some amazing members over the past week; each having contributed to the vision of a better community for our neighbors and the next generation. Rev. Vernice Warfield, a local civil rights icon and minister; Jacque Cady, a fierce advocate for the children in our community; Andrew Caverly, a longtime Democratic advocate; and Lauren Morelle, who took on cancer by the horns and courageously shared her path to help empower others families.

Loss often drives us to reflect on our own lives and actions. Following the 2016 Election, a number of us found ourselves in a similar reflection on the state of our democracy, and what our roles are in it.

Regardless of whom you support, MCDC will continue to work to make sure every voter can have access to the ballot box on Election Day. You may not be eligible in participating in a Primary Election as a voter, but you can volunteer those who need assistance getting to the polls. You can sign up here to pitch in here.